Jesse White launches bid to seek re-election as secretary of state

Official plans to continue to tackle distracted driving if he's re-elected

September 13, 2013|By Monique Garcia, Chicago Tribune reporter

Secretary of State Jesse White announces his re-election bid for a record fifth term during a news conference Thursday at Hotel Allegro in downtown Chicago. (Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White formally launched his campaign for a record fifth term Thursday, with the popular 79-year-old saying he plans to focus on distracted driving if he's re-elected.

White already is on track to become the state's longest-serving secretary of state at the completion of his current term. He had declared that his fourth term would be his last before changing his mind.

"I used to jump out of perfectly good airplanes," said White, a former paratrooper. "You never jump out of a plane and stop halfway, it's all the way. ... When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion."

White was first elected to the office in November 1998 after federal prosecutors had unveiled the first charges in the licenses-for-bribes probe that enveloped Republican predecessor George Ryan, who went on to become governor for one term before serving federal prison time. Truck drivers paid bribes to get licenses, money that authorities said ended up in Ryan's campaign fund.

The West Side Democrat touted his cleanup of the office after that scandal, as well as more recent efforts to enact tougher driving standards for teens and require motorists convicted of drunken driving to breathe into a device to prove their sobriety each time they get behind the wheel.

White also has led efforts to crack down on cellphone use and text messaging while driving. If elected again, White said he plans to continue to push for stricter laws against distracted driving.

On Thursday, White did acknowledge one mistake: his backing of Democratic Rep. Derrick Smith. White helped Smith get appointed to a West Side Illinois House seat in 2011, only to see Smith charged with bribery by federal authorities less than a year later. In August 2012, Smith became the first lawmaker in more than 100 years to be kicked out of the Illinois House.

White said he "tried to set the record straight" by calling for Smith to step down and supporting his challenger in last November's election, but voters decided to re-elect Smith anyway. Smith continues to serve in the House while battling the charges against him.

White launched his re-election bid at a downtown hotel where he was introduced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who noted that White supported his efforts to become mayor. Emanuel said he wasn't backing White simply to return to the favor but because of their "shared bond" of public service and White's "commitment to the next generation coming behind us."

White is well known for the youth tumbling team that bears his name and often participates in performances by doing a handstand while tumblers jump over him.

The secretary of state's office has long been viewed as a patronage haven in state government, no matter which political party controls it. The office has about 3,600 employees, second only to the governor's office.

At this point, White's re-election chances look good. He has more than $470,000 in his campaign account but may not need to spend much on his campaign given his past success at the ballot box. In 2010 he won with nearly 70 percent of the vote, up from 63 percent in 2006. His lowest level of support came when he first ran in 1998, but he still won that race with 55 percent of the vote. White has even had success in traditionally Republican places like DuPage County.

A Republican candidate has yet to surface, leading White to quip that "life is good."